Denver Mint Switching to Wind Power for
Electricity Needs

September 2nd, 2010
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Staff-Reported


The U.S. Mint in Denver usually has a silver “bling” because of its production of coins.  Now, the facility is adding some green to go with the silver in the form of wind energy.
 
Xcel Energy said Tuesday that the Mint will start getting all its electricity from wind power. The federal facility will buy its power from the utility’s Windsource program, through which customers pay a little more to support the development of electricity generated by wind farms.
 
The utility’s Windsource program will supply 100 percent of the electricity used at the Mint, making it one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in Colorado.


“The U.S. Mint at Denver is committed to resource conservation and finding ways of using alternative sources of energy in the production of America’s coinage,” said Guillermo Hernandez, spokesman for the facility.

The purchase by the Mint is equivalent to offsetting nearly 25.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide, which in turn is equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1,500 homes, 2,225 automobiles, or the propane cylinders of 484,807 home barbecues.

The partnership with Xcel Energy helps support renewable energy projects in Colorado, such as the recently announced 252.2 megawatts (MW) Cedar Point Wind project in Lincoln and Elbert Counties. Broomfield-based RES Americas is building the wind farm, which is the first  in Colorado using wind turbines manufactured in the state.

 
 

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